Tape feeding and marking machine



Sept. 13, 1949. G. STIEGLER TAPE FEEDING AND MARKING MACHINE 2Shee'ts-Sheet 1 Filed July 13, 1946 3 MW m/ I ii w A. a

INVENTOR.

150% E STIEQ LE R fiVPM A ttokyg Sept. 13, 1949.

G. STIEGLER 1 2,482,035

TAPE FEEDING AND MARKING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2/I\\\\\W J JNVENTOR.

GsoxqE STIEGLER Patented Sept. 13, 1949 UNIT ED STATES PATENT OFF ICE.

2,482,035 TAPE FEEDING AND MARKING. MACHINE George Sti'egler, CincinnatiQhio: Application July I3, 1946, Serial No. 683,466 6 Claims. (01.211-23) This invention relates to improvements in a machine or devicefor feeding tape to bemarked for attachment to articles, goods and thelike.

One of the chief uses for the present inventionwill' be. in laundrieswherein tags having a numher. or other marking is employed and attachedto garments and the like prior to their cleaning so that the said ar'icle. may be identified after such. c1eaning, pressing and. the like.

The chief object. of the present invention is the provision of a devicefor feeding the tape to a marking machine and which feeding device iseconomical to manufacture and use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a device forfeeding a continuous strip of material; tape, to be marked. and whichdevice holds the said material after marking to permit separationthereof from. the. remainder of the strip.

A further object of the present; invention is" the provision of aunitary machine or: devicefor use in. laundries, dry cleaningestablishments,. and similar institutions for feeding or supplying andmarking individual tickets or tags with an identifying number;. letteror the like which tickets are to be. attached to garments or articlesbeing, worked upon.

Another object of this. invention is the provision of a machine as set.forth in the preceding paragraph bu which may be used without. feedingto it a ticket but marking directly on. the. article itself.

Other. objects and. advantages of the present invention should bereadily apparent by reference. to the following specification consideredin. conjunction with. the accompanying; drawings. forming" a partthereof. and it is to be understood that any modifications may be madein the exact structural details there shown and described, within thescope. of the. appended claims, without departing from or exceeding thespirit of the invention.

In the drawings Fig 1. is. .a side elevation of the. feeding andmarking, machine of. this. invention.

Fig. 2. is a top plan view of, the machine as illustrated inFig. I.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine as seen from the right handside of Fig... I.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged: vertical sectinnal' view through the feedmechanism of the machine iilustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken transversely of Fig. 4' online 5-5 on said Fig. 4'.

Fig. 6' is a verticat sectional View similar to 2. Fig. 5' taken througha planeahead' of thatof Fig. 5 on line 6-6 on Fig. 4.

Fig. "7' isa fragmentary elevationalview of certain parts of Fig. 6 asseen from line l E on said Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is an enlargedhorizontal sectional view through the tapesupporting mechanism asseen from line 8-8 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged horizontal sectional similar to Fig. 8 takenthrough a, plane below that of Fig. 8 on line 9 -9 on Fig. I.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line Hl-lflon Fig. 8-.

Fig. 11 is a view takenon line ll'-H on Figure 1.

Throughout theseveral views of the drawings similar reference charactersare employed to denote the same or similar parts.

The complete tape feeding and marking mech anism or machine of thisinvention comprises. essentiallya tape supportin mechanism I5, a tapefeeding mechanism I 6, a tape marking mechanism IT, and a supporting andconnecting bracket and stand 3;.

The tape marking device; or mechanism 11 isessentially the markingmachine disclosed in United States Patent I,993,461 which issued onMarch 5, 1-935, to the present applicant. Thismarking' machine forms nopart of the present invention except in combination with the. tapefeeding mechanism and supporting mechanismand it will be but brieflydescribed The marking machine utilizes a U-shaped frame 19 which inpractice is inverted and sup ports upwardly thereof a tube 20 housing anoperating rod and coiled spring. Secured to the upper end of the rod as:by meansof nut: 21' is: a handle or knob 22. The upper end of the. tube20 is received in the lower end of the; knob 22 wherefore thetube andknob 20 and 22 telescope. during the operation. of thedevice.

Within the marking device frame i9 is a; sec ond inverted U-shaped frame23- which is secured to the above referred to operating rod and moveswith said rod and knob 22 in effectin the marking.

Carriedby the inner U-shapedframe 23 areaplurality of adjustable dials24 which are mounted on' and f'rictionallv attached to a shaft"25-whereby said dials may be individually adjusted to vary thecombinations of printing indioia. The shaft 25 is provided on' its outerend with a knob 2'6 whereby the dials are adjusted.

Pivotally carried by' the main frame, as at 2T, is. a plate 28 which inturn has pivotaliy conhected to its lower end an inking pad 29. Theinking pad 29 is rotatably or oscillatably mounted on a pivot shaftsupported by the lower end of the plate 28. Associated with the inkingpad 29 is a segmental gear 3| having its teeth meshing with that of aslidable rack 32 carried by the plate 28.

Associated with the marking frame I9 are a plurality of yieldablyactuated fingers 33, there being one finger for each dial which locksits dial in any position of adjustment.

The plate 28 is adapted to be oscillated about its pivot 21 and toeffect this oscillation it has projecting from its lower end, near thepivot bar 36, abutments 34 adapted to be engaged by the dial carryingframe 23 during its movement relative to the main frame l9.

The slide or rack 32 has its upper end connected to a spring which hasits other end anchored to the main frame for retracting the rack orslide 32 after the inking pad has performed its function as will laterbe made clear. Secured to the main U frame I9 is a leaf spring 36 whichengages the upper end of the plate 28 for'returning it to its normalposition after it has been oscillated by the dial frame 23.

The operation of the marking device elements is as follows:

Downward pressure on the knob 22 causes a downward movement of the rodsecured thereto and thereby the dial carrying frame 23. This movement ofthe frame 23 carries with it the slide or rack 32 thereby actuating theinking pad from the position illustrated in Fig. 4 to a position to becontacted by the dials 24. Continued movement of the dial frame 23causes it to engage the abutments 34 of plate 28 and outwardly swingsaid plate about its pivots 27; this swinging of the plate 28 being in aclockwise direction on the pivot 21 as seen in Fig. 1. The said swingingor oscillation of plate 28 breaks the connection of the dial frame 23and slide or rack 32 whereupon the spring 35 retracts the slide or rack32 to its upper position and through the said rack 32 and segmental gear3| removes the inking pad 29 from the path of the dials and the said padis then returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 4. The dialscontinue downwardly to engage the tape or article being marked.

The marking device I1 is pivoted by pivot screws 31 and 38 toprojections projecting from the upper ends of arms 39 and 40 of U-shapedbracket or cradle 4|. The bracket 4| is provided at its front end withan upstanding support portion 42 on which is secured anvil 43 having arelatively soft top portion 44. The soft portion 44 is convenientlyformed of rubber and constitutes the surface on which the tape or otherarticle being marked rests while being engaged by the dials 24. In otherwords the support or abutment 44 is in line with the dials and limitstheir movement as effected by the knob 22 The bracket 4| is secured tothe upper end of a pedestal 45 which constitutes a portion of the abovereferred to supporting and connecting bracket I8. The pedestal 45 isconveniently formed with an enlarged base flange 46 on which it restsand the pedestal 45 has at its upper end an attaching flange 41 throughwhich bolts, screws or the like 48 pass for securing thereto the bracket4|. In addition the pedestal 45 is provided along its rear surface witha pad 49 to which is secured a connecting bracket 56 frictionalengagement with the which carries at one end the tape feeding mechanisml6 and at its other end the tape supporting mechanism |5.

The tape feeding mechanism |6 illustrated most clearly in Figs. 4, 5, 6and '7 comprises a pair of side plates 5| and 52 having a configurationas illustrated in Fig. 7. Said side plates 5| and 52 are respectivelysecured to opposite sides of the tape feeding head'53 which is formedintegral with the upper end of vertical arm 54 of bracket 50. The head53 has a forward depending portion 55 and an arcuate supporting surface56 thereabove. The arcuate supporting surface 56 forms the lower surfaceof a throat 51 through which the tape is fed to be marked, as willpresently be made clear. Any suitable or desirable means may be employedfor securing the plates 5| and 52 to the head 53 there being illustratedin the drawings screws 58 for this purpose.

A considerable portion of said side plates 5| and 52 project rearwardlyof the head 53 and which portions are connected to one another andproperl spaced by a shouldered stud 59 receiving on opposite endsthereof nuts 60 and 6|.

Mounted between the spacing and connecting stud 59 and head 53 is a feedroller 62 preferably formed of material whose surface has a relativelyhigh coefiicient of friction. It has been found that rubber forms-anideal material from which the said wheel or roller 62 may be formed. Thewheel or roller 62 is provided axially thereof with a metal bushing 63through which extends a shaft 64. The roller 62 is secured to the shaft64 by means of a dog screw 65 threaded through the metal bushing 63 toimpinge on the shaft 64. f

The shaft 64 is journaled pressed, respectively, into apertures in theside plates 5| and 52. In order to actuate the feed roller 62 the shaft64 projects beyond one of said plates 5| and 52 to receive an actuatingknob 68 secured to said shaft 64 by dog screw or the like 69.Surrounding the shaft 64 between the knob 68 and flange of adjacentbushing 66, for exampie, is an expansion coil spring 10 which yieldablyremoves play that may be between the parts forming the assembly of thefeed wheel.

overlying the supporting surface 56 of the head 53 and forming the upperwall of throat 51 is a leaf spring 1| whose free end is bent to form afinger 12 pressed into engagement with the periphery of the feed roller62. As will later be made clear the tape to be printed is pressed intofeed roller 62 by the finger 12. The inner end of the leaf spring 1| isturned on itself as at 13 to embrace the base 14 of an actuating bracket15. The actuating bracket 15, see Figs. 6 and 7, has the portion thereofbeyond the leaf spring end 13 turned downwardly exteriorly of sideplates 5| and 52 to form arms 16 and 11. Each of said arms is providedwith an aperture to respectively receive pivot screws 18 and 19 threadedinto the head 53 in bushings 66 and 61 at points near the upper righthand corner thereof. Each of said bracket arms 16 and 11 has arearwardly projecting tall 89, one of which is illustrated in Fig. 7.Projecting from the bracket side plates 5| and 52 are abutment pins 8|to be engaged by said tails to limit the oscillation of the bracket 15.In other words the leaf spring 1| is under tension, due to engagement ofits finger 12 with the surface of feed roller 62, which tends tooscillate the bracket 15 about the pivot screws 18 and 19 and whichoscillation is limited by the abutments 8| for thereby maintainingtension between the finger I2 and feed roller 62. It will be noted fromFig. 4 that the leaf spring II and bracket 15 are connected to oneanother by a screw 82 with a felt or compressible filler 82 in terposedbetween said bracket and leaf spring body I I to insure movement of theleaf spring upon movement of bracket 15.

The bracket 15 as at its forward end an upwardly projecting portion 83and a rearwardly projecting portion 84 which act as a means forincreasing the tension .between the leaf spring fingo: 12 and feedroller 62 for the purpose of holding the tape while the portion whichwas previously marked is being removed. It is believed that thisoperation is obvious since pressure on the bracket foot 84 will tend tooscillate the bracket in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivotscrews I8 thereby actuating the leaf spring H in a similar direction butwhich movement is resisted due to the pressing of the leaf spring finger12 against the feed roller 62.

The tape supporting mechanism l5 comprises a pair of upstanding sides orstandards 95 and 85 connected to one another at their upper ends by top81 and intermediate their ends by transverse braces 88. The lowermosttransverse brace 89 is positioned above the lower ends of the sides 85and 86 thereby affording arms adapted to be received in grooves 90 and9| formed in the upstanding portion 92 at the outer end of base 93 ofconnecting bracket 59. It should be noted that the base 93 hasconsiderable width centrally of which extends an upstanding web so toreinforce the same.

At spaced intervals along the upstanding sides 86 and 81 there isprovided tape roll supports 95 there being two such supports for eachroll of tape utilized.

The tape may be formed of any suitable or desirable material, preferablycloth since it will be subjected to the washing and dry cleaning liquidsand fluids the same as the articles to which it is attached. Asintimated above the tape is in the form of a roll 96 and preferablyperforated at intervals as illustrated at 91 in Fig. 8. In other wordsthe tape while being continuous is transversely perforated or weakenedso that individual portions, tickets or the like 99 may be readily torntherefrom. As illustrated .in Figs. 1 and 4. the end of the tape isbrought between the supporting standards or sides 95 and 89 and passedunder the spacing and connecting stud 59 before being inserted betweenthe leaf spring finger 12 and feed roller 62. The tape is positioned orarranged on the feed roller 62 by the said spacing and connecting stud59 so as to have engagement therewith for a portion of the periphery ofsaid feed roller. It will be readily understood that rotation of thefeed roller 62 in a clockwise direction, as seen in Fig. 4, will feedthe tape into the throat 51 and through said throat to the anvil 44.Depression of the marking machine will stamp a number, letter or thelike onto the said tape. It has been found that the tension between theleaf spring finger l2 and feed roll 82 is normally sufficient to holdthe tape so that a tearing or side wise jerk on the ticket portionthereof which has been marked will sever it from the roll at theweakened or perforated line 91. Should, however, it be found that thistension is not sufiicient to hold the tape while a ticket is being torntherefrom pressure on the bracket foot 85 will supply sufficient tensionto permit the severance of a ticket 98 from the roil.

Each of the rolls 96 is mounted on a spool 99 which has projecting fromits opposite ends a journal I99 and [iii respectively received in thevertical slot I92 of the supporting brackets 95 which are mounteddiametrically of one another on the support sides 85 and 85. To preventthe inadvertent disassociation of the roll spool 99 from the brackets 95use is made of a yieldable abutment shown in the drawings in the form ofa ball I93 yieldably held in position by spring I04 backed up by screwI05. It will of course be understood that any other suitable ordesirable means may be employed for yieldably retaining the spools andtheir rolls 36 in position.

While the drawing illustrates the tape supporting mechanism l5 asincluding three rolls of tape it is to be understood that the number ofrolls may either be increased or decreased depending upon the use towhich it may be put or the desire of the user. With the arrangementillusrated in Fig. 1 different color tapes may be mounted on the tapesupporting mechanism for selective use.

The foregoing description has dealt with the marking of tickets for usein laundries and dry cleaning establishments, it is to be understood hattickets for other purposes may likewise be marked. For example, ticketsto indicate price and for lot of new merchandise can just as readily bemarked with the machine of this invention.

It should also be evident that the marking device may be actuatedwithout first feedin a tape or ticket onto the anvil 44 as when markingdirectly on the goods itself.

It should also be noted that the connection of the marking device H tothe cradle or bracket 4| by means of pivot screws 3? and 38 enables themarking device to be actuated to a position whereby the dials 29 can beadjusted.- To prevent the said marking device from being inadvertentlyoscillated on its pivot screws 3'11 and 38 use is made of a springpressed plunger M19 which has its innermost portion enterin a suitableretaining depression, not shown, in the main frame 19 of the markingdevice.

It is believed that the operation of the tape feeding and printingdevice is readily understood from the foregoing description and theillustrations in the drawings. It is also believed now evident thatthere has been provided a machine for accomplishing the objectsinitially set forth.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described for feeding tape relative to themarking anvil of a marking machine the combination of a head having anupper surface forming a tape support in substantially the plane of themarking anvil, side plates on said head projecting above and rearwardlyof the supporting surface, a leaf spring above said supporting surfaceand forming between its under surface and the upper surface of the tapesupport a passageway for the tape, a feed wheel rotatably carried by theside plates for feeding the tape through the passageway, manuallyoperable means exteriorly of the side plates for actuating the feedwheel, means carried by said side plates for positioning the tape onsaid feed wheel to be moved thereby, and means for mounting said leafspring on the head so that it projects beyond said head supportingsurface to overlie the feed wheel and yieldably hold the tape againstthe feed wheel.

2. In a deviceof the class described for feeding 75 tape relative to themarking anvil of a marking machine the combination of a head having anupper surface forming a tape support in substantially the plane of themarking anvil, side plates on said head projecting above and rearwardlyof the supportin surface, a leaf spring above said supporting surfaceand forming between its under surface and the upper surface of the tapesupport a passageway for the tape, a feed wheel rotatably carried by theside plates for feeding the tape through the passageway, manuallyoperable means exteriorly of the side plates for actuating the feedwheel, means carried by said side plates for positioning the tape onsaid feed wheel to be moved thereby, means for mounting said leaf springon the head so that it projects beyond said head supporting surface tooverlie the feed wheel and yieldably hold the tape against the feedwheel, said connection of the leaf spring with the head being a pivotalone, and means for limiting the oscillation of the leaf sprin about itspivotal connection with the side plates to establish a desired flex inthe leaf spring and the desired yielding tension thereof on the feedwheel.

3. In a device of the class described for feeding tape relative to themarking anvil of a marking machine the combination of a head having anupper surface forming a tape support in substantially the plane of themarking anvil, side plates on said head projecting above and rearwardlyof the supportin surface, a leaf spring above said supporting surfaceand forming between its under surface and the upper surface of the tapesupport a passageway for the tape, a feed wheel rotatably carried by theside plates for feeding the tape through the passageway, manuallyoperable means exteriorly of the side plates for actuating the feedwheel, means carried by said side plates for positioning the tape onsaid feed wheel to be moved thereby, means for mounting said leaf springon the head so that it projects beyond said head supporting surface tooverlie the feed wheel and yieldably hold the tape against the feedwheel, said connection of the leaf spring with the head being a pivotalone, means for limitin the oscillation of the leaf spring about itspivotal connection with the head to establish a desired flex in the leafspring and the desired yieldin tension thereof on the feed wheel, andmanually operable means for further flexing the leaf spring to increasethe yielding tension of said leaf spring on the feed Wheel.

4. In a device of the class described for attachment to a tap markingmachine for supporting and feeding tape relative to the marking anvil ofthe machine, said tape being in the form of a roll transverselyperforated at intervals whereby individual tickets are formed for manualseparation from the roll, the combination of a connecting bracket, ahead integral with one end of the connecting bracket and having an uppersurface forming a tape support in substantially the plane of the markinganvil, side plates on said head projecting above and rearwardly of thesupporting surface, a leaf spring above said supporting surface andforming between its under surface and the tape support surface apassageway for the tape, a tape roll support at the other end of theconnecting bracket, a feed wheel rotatably carried by the side platesfor feeding the tape through the passageway, manually operable meansexteriorly of the side plates for actuating the feed wheel, meanscarried by said side plates for positioning the tape on said feed wheelto be moved thereby, and means for mounting said leaf spring on the headso that it projects beyond said head tape support to overlie the feedwheel and yieldably hold the tape against the feed wheel and againstmovement during the manual separation of the individual tickets.

5. In a device of the class described for attachment to a tape markingmachine for supporting and feeding tape relative to the marking anvil ofthe machine, said tape being in the form of a roll transverselyperforated at intervals whereby individual tickets are formed for manualseparation from the roll, the combination of a connecting bracket, ahead integral with one end of the connecting bracket and having an uppersurface forming a tape support in substantially the plane of the markinganvil, side plates on said head projecting above and rearwardly of thesupporting surface, a leaf spring above said support and forming betweenits under surface and the upper surface of the tape support a passagewayfor the tape, a feed wheel rotatably carried by the side plates forfeeding the tape through the passageway, manually operable meansexteriorly of the side plates for actuating the feed wheel, a pair ofuprights at the other end of the connecting bracket spaced from oneanother to receive between them a tape roll, means on said uprights forrotatably supporting the tape roll, means carried by the head sideplates for positioning the tape from the roll onto said feed wheel to bemoved thereby, means for mounting said leaf spring on the head so as toproject beyond said head supporting surface to overlie the feed wheeland yieldably hold the tape against movement during the manua1separation of the individual tickets, said connection of leaf springwith the head comprising a carrying bracket pivotally mounted on thesaid head, and means for limiting the oscillation of the leaf springcarrying bracket about its pivotal connection with the head to establisha desired flex in the leaf spring and the desired yielding tensionthereof on the feed wheel.

6. In a device of the class described for attachment to a tape markingmachine for supporting F and feeding tape relative to the markin anvilof the machine, said tape being in the form of a roll transverselyperforated at intervals whereby individual tickets are formed for manualseparation from the roll, the combination of a connecting bracket, ahead integral with one end of the connecting bracket and having an uppersurface forming a tape support in substantially the plane of the markinganvil, side plates on said head projecting above and rearwardly of thesupporting surface, a leaf spring above said support and forming betweenits under surface and the upper surface of the tape support a passagewayfor the tape, a feed wheel rotatably carried by the side plates forfeeding the tape through the passageway, manually operable meansexteriorly of the side plates for actuating the feed wheel, a pair ofuprights at the other end of the connecting bracket spaced from oneanother to receive between them a tape roll, means on said uprights forrotatably supporting the tape roll, means carried by the head sideplates for positioning the tape from the roll onto said feed wheel to bemoved thereby, means for mounting said leaf spring on the head so as toproject beyond said head supporting surface to overlie the feed wheeland yieldably hold the tape against the feed wheel and against movementduring the manual separation of the individual tickets, said connectionof the leaf spring with the head comprising a car rying bracketpivotally mounted on the said head, means for limiting the oscillationof the leaf spring carrying bracket about its pivotal connection withthe head to establish a desired flex in the leaf spring and the desiredyielding tension thereof on the feed wheel, and manually actuated meansfor actuating the leaf spring carrying bracket in a direction toincrease the flexion and tension of the leaf spring on the feed wheeland tape mounted thereon.

GEORGE STIEGLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Number 15 Number Switzerland Dec. 11, 1911

